Standard 7 - Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.

Elementary (E), Intermediate (I) and Commencement (C)

A. Connections

The knowledge and skills of mathematics, science, and technology are used together to make informed decisions and solve problems, especially those relating to issues of science/technology/society, consumer decision making, design, and inquiry into phenomena.

B. Strategies

Solving interdisciplinary problems involves a variety of skills and strategies, including effective work habits; gathering and processing information; generating and analyzing ideas; realizing ideas; making connections among the common themes of mathematics, science, and technology; and presenting results.

C. Skills and Strategies for Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

1. Working Effectively

Contributing to the work of a brainstorming group, laboratory partnership, cooperative learning group, or project team; planning procedures; identify and managing responsibilities of team members; and staying on task, whether working alone or as part of a group.

2. Gathering and Processing Information:

Accessing information from printed media, electronic data bases, and community resources and using the information to develop a definition of the problem and to research possible solutions.

3. Generating and Analyzing Ideas:

Developing ideas for proposed solutions, investigating ideas, collecting data, and showing relationships and patterns in the data.

4. Common Themes:

Observing examples of common unifying themes, applying them to the problem, and using them to better understand the dimensions of the problem.

5. Realizing Ideas:

Constructing components or models, arriving at a solution, and evaluating the result.

6. Presenting Results:

Using a variety of media to present the solution and to communicate the results.